The Radavist

We live in a world where big brother is out to get you. The government wants to strap a helmet on your head, make you register your bike and throw you in prison anytime you disobey. Right? Wrong… The world, as a cyclist, isn’t that bad. Sure, there are hiccups once and while and maybe yes, the average US driver doesn’t like you, the cyclist, taking up their road but come on, we really have it pretty good overall.

Everyone got so pissy when Strava began “selling” your data that no one stopped to think about how important that data can be to improving your city’s cycling infrastructure. Yes, just think, maybe there’s a way to further separate you from those fat, lazy, stinky, smelly motorists that want all the road for themselves…

There is! But cities need essential data. Data that would cost the local government thousands of research funds. Or, they could just buy it from Strava. Seriously, they can have all my PRs, KOMs (oh wait) and routes, just improve my city too!

Wired Magazine wrote an exceptional piece on this very subject. I suggest you head over and read it.

If you’ve spent any amount of time with your bike in New York City, then you know it can be an unforgiving place. Bicycle Habitat mechanic Hal has made his internet career f0r Streetsblog by grading people’s bikes locked up in the streets of SoHo. Here is the 2014 edition and check out links to the previous years below.

This is kind of depressing and uncomfortable to watch – like a bad Ben Stiller movie. You just know things are going to go wrong.

Having ridden all over the world, it’s interesting for me to hear this Dutch reporter discuss the lack of “infra” in US cities. When these clips are presented in a matter-of-fact way, it’s easy to see why we’re so far behind in the US…

Nice find Jeff!

British architect Norman Foster’s newest project proposal isn’t a giant building with a spaceship-like façade. Instead, it’s an urban adaptive reuse project:

“Foster + Partners has unveiled a scheme that aims to transform London’s railways into cycling freeways. The seemingly plausible proposal, which was designed with the help of landscape firm Exterior Architecture and transportation consultant Space Syntax, would connect more than six million residents to an elevated network of car-free bicycle paths built above London’s existing railway lines if approved.

“SkyCycle is a lateral approach to finding space in a congested city,” said Norman Foster, who is both a regular cyclist and the president of Britain’s National Byway Trust. ”By using the corridors above the suburban railways, we could create a world-class network of safe, car free cycle routes that are ideally located for commuters.”

“To improve the quality of life for all in London and to encourage a new generation of cyclists, we have to make it safe,” he added. ”However, the greatest barrier to segregating cars and cyclists is the physical constraint of London’s streets, where space is already at a premium.”

The 220-kilometer SkyCycle, which has already received backing from Network Rail and Transport for London, would provide a safer and cheaper alternative to constructing new roads. Nearby residents would access the suspended pathway via 200 entrance points, all connected to the street by ramps and hydraulic platforms.”

Read more here.

$5 gets you a beer at your favorite bar, a cup of coffee and a scone, or a foot of trail in Downieville and a chance to win a MTB from Ibis. Here’s the scoop:

“This is a picture of Troy Morrisson, Sierra Buttes Trail Stewardship Trail Crew Foreman and Super Star. Troy is building trails for your enjoyment. Troy wants your help. There’s an easy way and a hard way to help. The hard way is to head up to the high Sierra and help Troy move some big heavy rocks.

Then there’s the easy way; buy a foot of sweet Sierra trail for $5, and you won’t have to do what Troy is doing. As an added bonus, donate money to the Stewardship between now and August 21st 2013 and you have a chance to win ANY IBIS BIKE, properly decked out with parts from Shimano, Easton, Fox and WTB. Choose your model and your wheel size: 26″, 27.5″, 29″, Ripley, HDR, Mojo SL-R, whatever you want. Size and color is up to you.”

Check out all the information you need to know about this RAD giveaway at Ibis!

This is the only piece of journalism regarding New York City’s new CitiBike program worth the watch. Idiots exist on both sides of the fence and Jon Stewart goes a great job once again presenting this well-overblown story. Also, “Keep it up, keep that bitch in the air, keep that bitch in the air, yea, there you go, that’s how you do a CitiBike”.

I will say this: Gage + DeSoto hit it on the head:

NYC motorists complain that #Citibike is slowing down traffic. At least it has accomplished what the NYPD (and Marty Golden) wouldn’t.

— Gage+DeSoto™(@gagedesoto) June 9, 2013

It’ll be interesting to see how well this system survives in NYC. Only time will tell.

“Memorial Day 2013 marked a milestone in NYC transportation history: the debut of the city’s bike-share system, Citi Bike. At 330 stations, 6,000 bikes (of a planned 10,000) were available to more than 13,000 members who signed up for a yearly pass – and many of them couldn’t wait to hit the streets!

The press conference at City Hall was a media frenzy. Hundreds of reporters and cameras were on hand to watch Mayor Michael Bloomberg and Transportation Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan ring in the launch. Streetfilms was there at this historic moment and put together this fun four-minute film which features a Citibike bike share station along a protected bike lane, David Byrne telling us what he will do with bike share and the best shot anyone got of Commissioner Sadik-Khan test driving the bike at City Hall.”

Via Streetfilms

Ouch. No sympathy for the rookie move on the moto’s behalf. I just hope the cyclists are ok. Does anyone have a link to what happened and why video was being shot in the first place? It took place on Mulholland Highway in Malibu.

Photo by Jesse Carmody

As much as I’ve been posting about various interviews with myself this week on the site, I can assure you that I want the content here on PiNP to support cyclists and companies. One of those ways we can all come together to help cyclists in California and beyond is by supporting the three foot law. That’s 36″, or approximately a meter. That’s space that can save lives. Think about it, the average opening to your home is 36″… it’s a meager request. If this passes in California, it’s a great benchmark for other states. I know Texas needs this too!

Please sign this petition!

Thanks Kyle!

Props to Affinity and the Raekwon for putting this together for Ride4NY.

“Affinity Cycles and Raekwon from the Wu Tang Clan have come together to design 3 custom bikes to be auctioned off to aid those hit hardest by Hurricane Sandy. In typical Wu Tang black and yellow, these bikes feature some of New York Cities hardest hit areas, Staten Island, Rockaway, Red Hook and Coney Island.”

Check out more information below, including how you can purchase one of these bikes!

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/52640864[/vimeo]

… on a bike! Keep on top of his craziness at the Casey Neistat Facebook. On a serious note, my thoughts are with everyone who’s been affected by this storm.

The NYC DOT has a new campaign out this month with the intent of increasing dooring awareness. I still think they should adopt the European method of opening the door with your opposing hand, so you’re forced to look in the direction of oncoming traffic but it’s a start. Still, staying three or four feet from a parked car helps considerably.

This is pretty straight forward, but these guys have a lot of valid points. Be safe out there. Thanks to People for Bikes for putting this together.

I was just going through my emails when I came across this and then Tracko posted it up as well. I met Jim once, in Tokyo, during the CMWC and he was a brilliantly charismatic guy. As the owner of Cranky’s, a great bike shop, he needs our help.

“This past weekend leading a youth BMX trip, Jim C a figure in our local bike community and Cranky’s shop owner took a really bad crash and landed himself in the hospital. He was rushed into surgery and spent the past couple days in the hospital racking up some big bills. Jim has done so much for our community so if you feel like supporting this awesome guy the Santa Barbara Bike Coalition has set up a donation site at www.bicicentro.org/ICF.

Back when Jim C. first moved out to Santa Barbara three years ago, coalition members were in awe. He brought with him the Bicycle Film Festival, the energy of the LA bike movement, Cranky’s, Gold Sprints, a cyclocross race, and even youth trips 100 miles away because of the BMX ban in our skate park.

Jim served the last two years as a Board member of the Bicycle Coalition active in both our events planning and in the advocacy arena. He tirelessly interacts with new and established cyclists to push our cause, hosts challenging events, and captains the ship at Cranky’s. Jim has helped so many of us, and now it’s time to help him.

At this time, 100% of SB Bicycle Coalition Injured Cyclist Fund donations are going to Jim Cadenhead, who is currently hospitalized due to a major crash during the annual Youth BMX overnight trip that he coordinates out to Atascadero.

He will have significant medical bills from this injury and does not have health insurance. It’s time for everyone to give back to Jim C!”

PLEASE donate anything you can to the Injured Cyclist Fund to help Jim C! I just did and you can too. Even $1 helps.

The Gothamist has a story up about how neighbors feel that the new Citibike share program will encourage terrorists to target the UN and various other international hubs in the area. I usually don’t post this kind of ridiculousness but the thought that someone would turn this hunk of shit into a bomb and attack a Federal building just strikes me as real-life-comedy. Seriously, this is out of an SNL skit… Read up here.

“Honestly I get to work in like 10 minutes” “It’s a lot faster than fuckin’ takin’ a bus”. Well said. Let’s all celebrate the ride to work. It is a lot better than anything else. But can we please bury that song? It’s been used in every video like this!

Sean Coats’ bike was stolen a while back and everyone thought it was gone for good. Then, Matt Spencer just posted this photo to his Facebook. Check out Dog the Bicycle Hunter’s gun!